MTSU astronomer focuses on ‘Astrophotography’ for Dec. 6 Star Party

MTSU Dec. 6 First Friday Star Party promo graphic

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University Department of Physics and Astronomy lecturer Gregg McPherson will discuss “Astrophotography” during the next Star Party starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, in Wiser-Patten Science Hall Room 102.

Astrophotography, which is also called astronomical imaging, is the photography or imaging of astronomical objects, celestial events or areas of the night sky.

The Horsehead Nebula, left, and Great Nebula in Orion as photographed by Roger N. Clark, a senior scientist with the Planetary Science Institute and professional digital and film imaging photographer since 1976. Middle Tennessee State University Department of Physics and Astronomy lecturer Gregg McPherson will discuss “Astrophotographer” starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the first Friday Star Party in Wiser-Patten Science Hall Room 102, a free event open to the public. (Photo by Roger N. Clark)

All Star Parties are free and open to the public and children are welcome. The format is a 45- to 60-minute lecture followed by a telescope viewing at the nearby MTSU Observatory, weather permitting.

Typically held on the first Friday of the month during the semester, the Physics and Astronomy Friday Star Parties feature an assortment of interesting astronomy and physics topics from veteran faculty members.

Dr. "Gregg" McPherson, Physics and Astronomy lecturer — Dr. Gregg McPherson

“Sometimes when I show intro astronomy students pictures taken of objects in deep space they are underwhelmed, saying something like, ‘they just added those colors on a computer,’” McPherson said. “It makes me wonder what our expectations are when we look through a telescope for the first time. Have decades of artists’ imaginings literally colored our perception of what far away objects look like?

“In this talk, I want to discuss some of the technology that goes into astrophotography and relate it to similar mechanisms responsible for producing the selfies we take hidden within behind our cell phone camera’s lens.”

Astrophotography dates to 1840 when the first photo of an astronomical object, the moon, was taken, according to Wikipedia. Technology advances allowed for detailed stellar photography in the late 1800s.

Modern astrophotography has the ability to image objects outside the visible spectrum of the human eye. These include dim stars, nebulae and galaxies.

Free parking after 4:30 p.m. can be found in the Judd-Sims lot or James E. Walker Library lot and other nearby lots located on the north side of Alumni Drive between North Baird Lane and Womack Lane.

Physics and Astronomy will announce its spring Star Party schedule by Feb. 1.

For more information about Physics and Astronomy, one of 11 College of Basic and Applied Sciences departments, call 615-898-2130.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)